Over eight generations of Pokémon, countless species have been created and designed, with most of them drawing from real-world inspirations. As a common household pet, it is only natural that the cat has been one of those animals that spawned countless Pokémon.
While collectives such as the Eeveelutions and the Legendary Beasts have constantly divided opinions over their origins and inspirations, there are several alternatives that have undisputed similarities and general characteristics of cats, with some having better showings in the anime than others.
10 Zangoose Is A Terrifying Cat-Mongoose Hybrid
Despite having a name that would suggest its likeness to a mongoose, Zangoose is literally known as the Cat Ferret Pokémon, with it having a clear feline resemblance in its face especially.
In the anime, Zangoose is often shown as a terrifying and somewhat villainous Pokémon in the wild, evident in Chimchar’s origin story in particular. Its furious rivalry with Seviper isn’t visited all too often in the anime, but whenever it is featured, the ill-intent is clear for all to see.
9 Meowstic Possesses Unpredictable Mystical Powers
The peculiar cat-like Pokémon Meowstic is the evolved form of Espurr and has two unique forms depending on the Pokémon’s gender. Ash had a couple of run-ins with the Constraint Pokémon while in Kalos, with him first losing Froakie to one belonging to a trainer named Astrid, and secondly when he faced off against two in a Double Battle against Anistar Gym Leader Olympia.
Olympia’s duo of Meowstic worked in perfect harmony with Helping Hand tactics while utilizing the unpredictable delayed move of Future Sight, which forced Ash to think on the fly and strategize in order to eventually overcome the tricky Gym Leader.
8 Alolan Persian Embraces The Dark Side
Meowth’s evolved form, Persian, has received both Alolan and Galarian regional variants in both Gen VII and Gen VIII, giving it design and type changes. The original Persian was never truly shown off as a threatening battler, although Team Rocket Boss Giovanni owned one, which Meowth often dreamt about surpassing and replacing.
The Alolan Persian was shown off as more of a threat, befitting of its Dark-typing. In the Sun & Moon series, a Madame’s Persian was often shown to chase small and vulnerable species, with cruel intentions. Dark-type specialist and Ula’ula Island Kahuna Nanu also used one against Ash in his Grand Trial, although it eventually lost to Ash’s Lycanroc.
7 Glameow Was Shown To Be The Perfect Contest Pokémon
During the Diamond & Pearl series, Glameow was mostly shown off in a Pokémon Contest capacity, with one belonging to Dawn’s mother Johanna, and one also belonging to Dawn’s friend and rival Zoey.
Zoey was quickly shown off as being one of the top Coordinators on the Contest circuit, with her Glameow holding its own against and defeating Ash’s Aipom in the battle stages, cementing Glameow as a Pokémon not to be underestimated. Glameow was shown to have a diverse move pool, making it great in both the battle and appeal rounds.
6 Luxray Is A Lion-Inspired Powerhouse
The Shinx-line, including Luxio and Luxray clearly has elements of lion and lion-cub inspiration, from the looks and designs to their moves and mannerisms.
In the anime, Shinx were often shown to be loyal pet-like friends to some younger trainers such as Angie and Landis. It was never truly shown to be a battler as a Shinx, with Clemont owning and showing off a Luxio in X & Y, and Sunyshore Gym Leader Volker owning a Luxray in Diamond & Pearl, which even managed to defeat Ash’s Pikachu.
5 Tyson’s Meowth Showed There Is More To The Species Than Just Team Rocket Wit
Meowth has been the second most recurring Pokémon in the anime, behind only Ash’s Pikachu. Although Team Rocket’s Meowth is mostly viewed as the third member of the trio rather than it being a Pokémon, it has still battled numerous times over the course of the entire series. However, in typical Team Rocket fashion, it has never been shown in a truly impressive light in terms of battling.
In the Ruby & Sapphire series, a non-talking Meowth was introduced and truly showcased with its battling prowess. Donning a unique outfit resembling “Puss in Boots,” Tyson’s Meowth was quick and powerful, with it even countering and defeating Ash’s Pikachu at the Ever Grande Conference, knocking Ash out of the tournament.
4 Solgaleo Is The Giant Lion-Like Legendary Pokémon
Solgaleo is Pokémon Sun‘s representative Legendary Pokémon with it being introduced in Gen VII alongside Lunala. In the anime, Solgaleo travels with Ash and friends, with them completely unaware of its true form and destiny. Ash and friends named the baby Cosmog Nebby, with it later evolving into Cosmoem and Solgaleo.
Solgaleo has clearly taken inspiration from a lion, in its proud and powerful design but also in its name. Its mane especially does a perfect job of representing both a lion and the sun.
3 Zeraora Overpowered Pikachu
Not only was Zeraora showcased as a mysterious and powerful Pokémon in The Power Of Us, but it also had a strong showing in the anime, under the ownership of a trainer named Dia.
In “Battling The Beast Within,” Zeraora helped Ash’s Pikachu to defeat a Guzzlord before defeating Ash’s Pikachu in one of just two losses that Pikachu suffered in the region. The Thunderclap Pokémon has clear and distinctive feline features, making it one of the strongest cat-like Pokémon in the anime.
2 Kukui’s Incineroar Took No Prisoners
Incineroar’s main showing in the anime was under the ownership of the Masked Royal, who was later revealed to be Professor Kukui. The Masked Royal was shown to defeat anybody and everybody, with Incineroar overpowering any challenger. After the reveal that Kukui was the Masked Royal, he faced off against Ash in an Exhibition Match with it defeating Melmetal before falling to Ash’s Torracat.
In the movie I Choose You, an Incineroar also got a good showing under the ownership of a trainer named Cross, with it initially picking up a victory against Ash’s Charmeleon, before losing to a newly evolved Charizard in the rematch.
1 Ash’s Torracat Had An Emotional Backstory That Fueled Its Battle Style
Despite initially having to be patient in earning its trust, Ash eventually managed to befriend and catch a Litten, which became one of his best battlers in the Sun & Moon anime. It had a sad backstory especially with the passing of its dear friend Stoutland, and this emotion was often shown in battle.
Torracat’s only defeats in Alola were to the Masked Royal’s Incineroar, which it would eventually beat in a rematch down the line, and Guzma’s Golisopod at the Manalo Conference. After its spectacular win over Kukui’s Incineroar, it evolved into an Incineroar itself.
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